Wikipedia

1994 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1994 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Democratic governor Ann Richards was defeated in her bid for re-election by Republican nominee and future president George W. Bush, the son of former president George H. W. Bush.

1994 Texas gubernatorial election
← 1990 November 8, 1994 1998 →
Turnout50.87%
 
Nominee George W. Bush Ann Richards
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,350,994 2,016,928
Percentage 53.5% 45.9%
County results
Bush:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Richards:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Ann Richards
Democratic

Elected Governor

George W. Bush
Republican

Before the election, Richards had a high approval rating due to the strength of the state economy. However, Bush's campaigning on cultural and religious issues resonated with many Texan voters, and the race was considered a tossup on election day.

On election day, Bush carried 188 of the state's 254 counties, while Richards carried 66. As of 2022, this is the last time the Democratic candidate for governor has carried Briscoe, Hall, Cottle, Hardeman, Knox, Baylor, Dickens, Jones, Nolan, Mitchell, Clay, Palo Pinto, Comanche, Menard, Fannin, Delta, Rains, Camp, San Augustine, Sabine, Tyler, Orange, Caldwell, Galveston, Robertson, Milam, Limestone, and San Patricio counties. Exit polls revealed that Bush won overwhelmingly among white voters (69% to 31%) while Richards performed well among African Americans (83% to 15%) and Latinos (75% to 25%). The 1994 election marked the last time that a Democrat won more than 45% of the vote in a Texas gubernatorial election, though the party was more successful in other statewide offices: Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, Attorney General Dan Morales, Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Comptroller John Sharp all won reelection. This is also the last time a Democrat won statewide in Texas as it is the state with the longest drought of electing Democrats to statewide office.

Bush's victory was one of the most notable in the 1994 Republican Revolution, as he was one of four candidates to defeat an incumbent governor that cycle. As of the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election, this is the last time an incumbent governor of Texas lost re-election.

Primaries

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Republican

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Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican George W. Bush 520,130 93.32% +93.32%
Republican Ray Hollis 37,210 6.68% +6.68%
Total votes 557,340 100.00%

Democratic

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Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ann Richards (incumbent) 806,607 77.79% +20.70%
Democratic Gary Espinosa 230,337 22.21% +22.21%
Total votes 1,036,944 100.00%

Campaign

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On June 11, 1994, 54 delegates met at the Libertarian state convention to statewide nominees. Keary Ehlers was given the gubernatorial nomination and the other statewide nominees were selected on June 12.[1] Tom Pauken, the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, stated that Keary Ehlers should withdraw to help Bush win the election. Jay Manifold, the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Texas, stated that Bush should withdraw to help Ehlers win the election in response.[2]

Polling

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Source Date George W.
Bush (R) 		Ann
Richards (D)
KPRC-TV November 4, 1994 48% 44%
Dallas Morning News/Houston Chronicle October 30 – November 3, 1994 47% 44%
Houston Post/KHOU-TV November 2, 1994 44% 47%
KPRC-TV October 23, 1994 47% 44%
Houston Post/KHOU-TV October 7, 1994 43% 41%

Endorsements

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Bush endorsements

Organizations

  • Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas[3]
  • Coalition for a Safer Society[3]
  • Concerned Insurance Texas Agents[3]
  • Justice for All[3]
  • Texas Association of Business[3]
  • Texas Association of Dairymen[3]
  • Texas Cattle Feeders Association[3]
  • Texas Cotton Ginners Association[3]
  • Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture[3]
  • Texas Forestry Association[3]

Newspapers

Notable individuals

Richards endorsements

Organizations

Newspapers

Notable individuals

Ehlers endorsements

Organizations

  • North Texas Arms Rights Coalition[3]

Results

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General election results[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican George W. Bush 2,350,994 53.48% +6.56%
Democratic Ann Richards (incumbent) 2,016,928 45.88% −3.59%
Libertarian Keary Ehlers 28,320 0.64% −2.68%
Total votes 4,396,242 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "Libertarians pick gubernatorial candidate". El Paso Times. June 12, 1994. p. 26. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Libertarian leader asks Bush to quit". Austin American-Statesman. September 30, 1994. p. 20. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Endorsements". Austin American-Statesman. October 16, 1994. p. 113. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Hutchison wins endorsements; governor's race still tight". The Monitor. November 1, 1994. p. 36. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "Richards, Bush keep frantic paces as Election Day quickly appearances". Austin American-Statesman. November 5, 1994. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ 1994 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State
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